UFCThe Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts organization, recognized as the largest MMA promotion in the world. The UFC is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada and is owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC. This promotion is responsible for solidifying the sport's postion in the history-books.
UFC is currently undergoing a remarkable surge in popularity, along with greater mainstream media coverage. UFC programming can now be seen on FOX, FX, and FUEL TV in the United States, as well as in 35 other countries worldwide.

While Kampmann's home country of Denmark might have a bit of a rivalry with Sweden, the UFC welterweight admitted that it would be cool to help carry a show in his home country like Gustafsson is doing with his headlining appearance on UFC on FUEL TV 2 this weekend in his hometown of Stockholm.

"I'd love to fight in Denmark eventually," Kampmann said during an interview this week with media members in his adopted hometown of Las Vegas. "We have UFC going to Sweden. I'd have a lot of people come out if UFC came to Denmark.

"UFC is not that big in Denmark, but there's still a hardcore group of fans. When I started training MMA when I was back in Denmark, I used to go to Sweden a lot. I don't like to say it because Denmark and Sweden are kind of competitors, but they were a little bit ahead of us."

Kampmann (19-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC), a native of Aarhus, Denmark, said he hopes new MMA television programming in his home country will help the sport to grow to the point the UFC would be interested in hosting an event there.

"It's definitely grown a lot," he said. "There's a lot more fighters, lot more shows, lot more gyms, lot more exposure from the mainstream media. But they've still got a ways to go."

How far Kampmann's career goes very well could depend on how he does in his next match against Jake Ellenberger (27-5 MMA, 6-1 UFC) at The Ultimate Fighter Live Finale on June 1 at the The Pearl at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

While UFC president Dana White has all but declared the five-round main event a title eliminator, Kampmann insists he doesn't feel any added pressure.

"I don't worry about that," he said. "I just go in there and fight. That's my job. Of course I'd love to fight for a title shot. But that's not up to me. I focus on going in there and performing, kicking people's [expletives], and the rest is up to the UFC."

The 29-year-old Kampmann has put together back-to-back wins over Thiago Alves and Rick Story after suffering two controversial setbacks in a row.

While he wasn't exactly pleased with his overall performance in his win over Alves this past month in Australia, he said scoring a last-minute guillotine choke for the victory gave him some added confidence — as well as the knowledge he can perform at a much higher level.

"I felt I really had to finish the fight because I was probably behind on the scorecards," he said. "I went for the finish and luckily got his neck.

"I'm my own worse critic. Even when I have wins, I'll go back and look at all my mistakes. There's a lot of room for improvement. I haven't shown the best Martin Kampmann in the UFC yet."

Kampmann might have to do just that in order to beat the red-hot Ellenberger, who has won six fights in a row — four by knockout — after losing his only UFC bout against now-interim champ Carlos Condit in his promotional debut in September 2009.

"He's done good, he's beaten some good guys, and he's knocked out some good guys," Kampmann said. "He's tough. He's up at the top of the division, and that's why I want to fight him. I want to fight the best guys the UFC has to offer."

The 27-year-old Nebraska native just beat the past two men to defeat Kampmann, defeating Sanchez by unanimous decision (whereas Kampmann lost to Sanchez by a controversial unanimous decision), and knocking out Jake Shields (who scored a split-decision victory over the "Hitman").

"I think I beat (Sanchez) up more than Ellenberger did if you look at his face," Kampmann said. "I think I gave him stitches for the rest of the year."

While Kampmann said he couldn't really compare the bouts (though he fantasizes about erasing both losses from his record, or at least getting rematches), he said he knows he's going to have to avoid Ellenberger's dangerous hands.

"He might not be super slick," he said. "But he's got really heavy hands and knockout power. That's definitely his best asset, and that's what I got to watch out for."

"When you swing crazy like that, you leave a lot of holes too," he said. "That's holes for me to pick on and punch him. I don't know if he's going to try to take me down. I feel like I can stuff his takedowns. Maybe I'll take him down. We'll see. I feel confident in striking with him or on the ground."

Kampmann reiterated that he's not the same fighter he was when he lost to Sanchez just a year ago, and that he's ready to take advantage of arguably the biggest fight in his six-year octagon career.

"I'm a better fighter now," he said. "I could whip my (butt) if I fought myself a year ago. I'm getting better all the time. My main focus is putting it all together in the octagon and fighting up to my full potential."

Out of interest what are the major TV networks like in Denmark? I know the UK does ok with the UFC because the potential revenues that can be made from the UK market are good.

Denmark will only get a show when Dana and the UFC feel its beneficial - Sucks hard to be a big fan of a sport in a country where it gets no recognition.

I think the best opportunity is for Kampmann to beat Ellenberger and get a title shot. People love someone of their nationality competing for world titles regardless of the sport! I for one hope Kampmann gets it - Can't think of a guy who has been boned over by judges more than him!

By the time the UFC host a show in Denmark Kampmann may have retired, Sweden has almost twice the population of Denmark and has one of Europe's largest MMA organisations in Superior Challenge, i wouldn't anticipate Denmark anytime soon as there are probably at least 2 or 3 "new" European countries for the UFC to visit first.

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Don't see a show happening in Denmark any time soon, would be cool though might even think about travelling over there to see it! Kampmann is a great guy it seems, and could be on a 4 fight win streak if judges were not silly.

Don't see a show happening in Denmark any time soon, would be cool though might even think about travelling over there to see it! Kampmann is a great guy it seems, and could be on a 4 fight win streak if judges were not silly.

It's not the judges you should be angry with.

Kampmann didn't do enough in the striking to negate Jake's takedown in the second round of their fight and like a moron decided to grapple with Jake when he was beyond gassed in the third.

Then he got buckled by Sanchez when he was against the fence and was taken down in the third round where the striking was even.

Out of interest what are the major TV networks like in Denmark? I know the UK does ok with the UFC because the potential revenues that can be made from the UK market are good.

Denmark will only get a show when Dana and the UFC feel its beneficial - Sucks hard to be a big fan of a sport in a country where it gets no recognition.

I think the best opportunity is for Kampmann to beat Ellenberger and get a title shot. People love someone of their nationality competing for world titles regardless of the sport! I for one hope Kampmann gets it - Can't think of a guy who has been boned over by judges more than him!

Well we have one major network regularly showing MMA - not UFC though.

UFC is on Canal+ Sport as it is in Sweden. It is a premium cable channel, so you have to spend quite a bit of money to actually get to it.

MMA is still a fringe sport here, it speaks volumes that I have been a part of establishing our first major MMA forum here - and I consider myself small fish on this board even

So sad that the sport is still struggling to gain main-stream recognition :/